12/14

As the end of 2013 approaches, the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission is stepping back momentarily to regroup and refocus its efforts, according to member and former Newtown state representative Christopher Lyddy, who sits on the panel.

(AP) An organization composed of Medal of Honor recipients traveled to Newtown on December 23 to honor the six educators killed on 12/14 at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society said it chose Rachel D’Avino, Dawn Hochsprung, Anne Marie Murphy, Lauren Rousseau, Mary Sherlach and Victoria Soto to receive its Citizen Honors Medal, the highest award it gives to a civilian, after receiving dozens of nominations for their actions during the shooting.

Vancouver-based vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Robyn McCorquodale is among those around the world who was “rocked by the mass shooting and loss of 20 first-graders and six educators. An unimaginable assault on beautiful human life,” she said.

In response, she has written and recorded a single, “Garden of Angels,” that is available as a digital download from iTunes and CD Baby. Proceeds from the song’s sale will be donated to Sandy Hook Promise.

Police Chief Michael Kehoe has reversed an earlier position and decided against pursuing job termination against Police Officer Thomas Bean, a town police officer who responded to the 12/14 mass shooting incident at Sandy Hook School and subsequently has been off work since then due to a medical diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

WASHINGTON — The Newtown tragedy has galvanized gun-control groups and turned victims of gun violence into advocates like no other mass shooting in US history.

In the year since the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, new coalitions have been formed as have new gun-control organizations, including Mothers Against Gun Violence, a PAC created by former Arizona representative Gabrielle Giffords — a victim of a mass shooting herself — and Newtown Action Alliance.

The overwhelming support that flowed into Sandy Hook Elementary School in so many varying forms after the events of 12/14 inspired then-teacher and Greenwich resident Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis to do something in return.

Ms Roig-DeBellis is currently taking a leave of absence from teaching at the school, and, with plans to return to teach in August, is spending her time focusing on other classrooms.

“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” — Shel Silverstein

I am writing to you from Jacksonville, Florida, many miles away from Newtown, Connecticut. One year ago, on December 13th, my husband and I learned that we would be adding a son to our family. We were glad to know we were having a boy, but we had no idea what to name him.

The next morning, tragedy struck your community and unbelievable news stories were reported here in Jacksonville. The country was in shock, and we prayed that weekend for the families shattered by the events of December 14th.

One by one early Monday afternoon, family members of those lost on 12/14 filed out of the home of Annette Sullivan, where eight of the children who died that day used to ride horses and enjoy the sprawling estate tucked away on a quiet cul-de-sac in Sandy Hook.